CLXVIII (F II, 3)
TO C. SCRIBONIUS CURIO (IN ASIA)
ROME (?FEBRUARY)
Rupa 1 was
not backward in his wish to promise an exhibition
of gladiators in your name, but neither I nor any
of your friends approved of anything being done in
your absence which would tie your hands when you
returned. For my part, I will either write you my
opinion at greater length later on, or, to give
you no opportunity of preparing an answer to it, I
will take you unprepared and state my view by word
of mouth against yours. I shall thus either bring
you over to my opinion, or at least leave in your
mind a record of my view, so that, if at any time
(which heaven forbid!) you may see cause to repent
of your decision, you may be able to recall mine.
Briefly, be assured that your return will find the
state of things to be such, that you may gain the
highest possible honours in the state more easily
by the advantages with which you are endowed by
nature, study, and fortune, than by gladiatorial
exhibitions. The power of giving such things stirs
no feeling of admiration in anyone; for it is
wholly a question of means, and not of
character—and there is nobody who is not
by this time sick and tired of them. But I am not
acting as I said I would do, for I am embarking on
a statement of the reasons for my opinion. So I
will put off this entire discussion to your
arrival. Believe me, you are expected with the
greatest interest, and hopes are entertained of
you such as can only be entertained of the highest
virtue and ability. If you are as prepared for
this as you ought to be—and I feel
certain you are—you will be bestowing on
us, your friends, on the whole body of your fellow
citizens, and on the entire state, the most
numerous and most excellent of
exhibitions. You will certainly become aware that
no one can be dearer or more precious than you are
to me.
ROME (?FEBRUARY)
